Never Forget

THE
Beauséant DECEMBER 2003
E v e r y C h r i s t i a n M a s o n s h o u l d b e a K n i g h t Te m p l a r
COMMITTEE OF KNIGHT TEMPLAR ADVANCEMENT OF THE SOVEREIGN GREAT PRIORY OF CANADA
Never Forget Identifying Symbolism
by Sir Knight Michael Millard by Rt. Em. Kt. George Corbin, K.C.T.
B S
eing a fan of history, I was excited to join Preceptory and be a ymbolism, crest or logo seems to be one of the
Knights Templar. Who doesn’t know or hear about the times of most sought after identifications of our society
chivalry, King Arthur, and the Crusades. After joining, I realized today. Rt. Em. Kt. W. Bruce Miller, Chairman
that there is not only a history of our Order of Knights Templar; of Knight Templar Advancement in his- an-
there is also a rich history of our Sovereign Great Priory. I had an oppor- nual report to Sovereign Great Priory in Dartmouth,
tunity to pick up a copy of Michael Jenkyns excellent book: The Sovereign Nova Scotia encouraged the use of the roundel on all
Great Priory of Canada of the United Orders of Malta and the Temple 1855- summonses. The use of the roundel either in colour or black and white
2002: The Supreme Grand Masters. It is available now and your registrar would be recognizable by our Preceptories and all Masonic bodies across
will have information on how to purchase it. Not only does it have bio- Canada. It would be an immense step forward for the Sovereign Great
graphical information on all the Grand Masters, it also has summaries of Priory to have this crest or logo as part of our Statutes.
the Annual Assemblies. Our rich history of the Order in Canada is docu- Symbolism with the image of Jesus as a lamb is one of the most common
mented in this book so that we can see where we have come from to arrive and striking examples of Christian symbolism. The ref-
at where we are today. Some of the information is quite surprising. erence to the lamb can be found in many of the books of
For example, the Preceptory I belong to, Harington Preceptory #14, was the Bible. Of course, it must be admitted that symbolism
named after Very Eminent Knight Thomas Douglas Harington. It was is too important to avoid or dismiss. Being a Christian
chartered in 1871 in Trenton, Ontario and moved to Almonte and finally and Military Order, the showing of our symbolism
North Bay, Ontario in 1893. Not only was V. Em. Knight Harington at the can be traced back many years in history. We find the
very first meeting of the Provincial Grand Conclave for Canada in 1855, Masonic symbol (square and compasses) on Masonic
but his death was mentioned in the proceedings in 1882. What is impor- Temple signs and welcoming visitors as they enter the
tant about this is that Harington Preceptory was named after him while limits of our cities. Yes, even today, many cities have
he was still alive. Current statutes only allow the naming of a Preceptory large buildings (usually in the center of town) bearing the emblem or logo
after someone who is no longer living. This kind of information is invalu- of the square and compasses atop a wall or cornerstone. In many towns
able to historians who want to record the history of their preceptories, and or cities the buildings carrying the emblem on the wall may be “an old
illustrates how things change over time. building” or the lodge may have ceased operation entirely.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in our his- Let us all as Knight Templars use the crest (roundel) on all our summons
tory as an Order in Canada, or who is interested in their own Preceptory’s as a recognizable symbol to all Knights and fellow Masons. The adoption
history. We must never forget the history of the Templars who we rep- as part of the rich panorama of Christian symbolism used in Templary is
resent. But we must also never forget those who went before us to form both appropriate and instructive.
this Order in Canada and who carried it on to the present day. Hopefully,
what we do today and tomorrow will echo far into the future and they will
look back and never forget us.
That Which Was Lost
I
magine the surprise of Rt. Em. Kt. Guy Deveau when browsing in a flea
The Sword market, he happened to open an old, but well preserved book. Carefully
typewritten pages, in black ink with red type for highlighting, revealed
by R. Em. Kt. Carl Sherwood
it to be the Minute Book of Hugh De Payenes Commandery, #30 KT of
Buffalo, N.Y. for December 12th, 1932 through to March 8th 1937. Further
research discovered that this Commandery was still in operation. Sir Kt.
Tom Jeacock, in cooperation with Past Commander Jeff Williamson of Erie
Commandery Buffalo will assist in returning it to the Commandery.
Some interesting pieces of information found in the minutes.
T
he sword worn by the Knights is symbolical of the spirit with Oct. 8th 1934 communications from St. Bernard de Clairveaux Pre-
which to employ and attack the temptations and wiles of the ceptory #19, K.T. of Dunnville, Ont. giving detailed instructions to Sir
devil. Knights Templar are pledged to defend the holy Christian Knights attending their 60th anniversary Church Service on Oct. 14th.
faith and to fight with the sword in defense of the cross against Feb.11th, 1935. Guest speaker Most Em. Sir Allen B. Barr Past Grand
all infidels and unbelievers. Master of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada, gave ,a most interest-
The cross of Christ is being attacked in various ways. Today’s removal of ing and thrilling address on the Templars of the Crusades from the time
the Lord’s Prayer from schools, television and movies that promote pro- of their organization through to the suppression and destruction of the
fanity, violence, and illicit sex to name a few. Order” note M.Em.Kt. Allen Barr was a frequent visitor.
If there ever was a time for Christian men to maintain the faith of our Nov. 9th, 1936. A report was given of a fraternal visit to Cyrene Pre-
fathers and to stand up in defence of Christian tenets and principals, it is ceptory K.T. of Toronto, where the Templar orders were conferred “in
now! This is even more marked when we see leaders in all levels of govern- accordance with the Canadian ritual, which was greatly enjoyed by all”.
ment, federal, provincial and municipal, opening up ways and means to Also Commander Em. Sir Warren B. Wilkes was made an Honorary Life
allow people to desecrate gods commandments. Member, and was presented with a Cyrene Preceptory Jewel.
Beauséant
THE
The Seal of Sovereign SUPREME GRAND MASTER’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2003
Great Priory Where were you when
B the lights went out?
efore looking at the seal that has become synonymous with the
Templar order it is first important that we have an understanding
A
of the purpose of such seals. t 4:11 p.m. on August
In the Middle Ages, the most 14, 2003, a cascading
common ways to show the authenticity of power failure plunged
a document was to affix a seal to it. These 50 million Canadians
seals were images carved into a block and Americans, in Ontario and
which, when pressed into warm wax, left seven States, into darkness. I
behind an inverse image of the picture. It was in Montreal on my way to
worked much like a modem photo nega- Hamilton to visit the Deputy
tive does. It identified the author of the Grand Master in hospital, en
document and was meant to stop people route to the Grand Encampment
from forging or tampering with official of Knights Templar of the United
documents and correspondence. States of America in St. Louis,
In an age when even illiterate people needed to conduct business trans- Missouri. Driving along Highway
actions, seals allowed an individual to declare his agreement even if he 401 that night was surreal, know-
couldn’t sign his name. ing that there were that many
There were seals of ecclesiastical bodies, Monarchs, individuals and even or- people who did not have lights,
ders like the Templars. Although one image would, in modem times, become water, telephones, air condition- form Encephalopathy. Queen
synonymous with the order, there were in fact many Templar Seals. However it ers in a heat wave, elevators and Elizabeth‚s Christmas message
is this traditional seal that has garnered the most attention and speculation. all the amenities we have come referred to 1997 as annus hor-
The traditional seal of the Knights Templar depicted two knights riding to take for granted. It reminded ribilis. 2003 has been Canada’s
a single mount and was actually the seal of Grand Master Bertrand De me of crossing the desert, just be- annus horribilis.
Blanchfort who developed the seal for his personal usage in 1168. fore Christmas in 1974, between In September 1939, a series of
The image of the two knights astride a single mount was said to represent Cairo and Port Said. During the events had propelled England
their vow of poverty. The original, founding members being so poor that day, we had seen no evidence of into the largest war of all time.
each knight could not afford his own horse. While this is perhaps true of anyone as we travelled along the King George VI, a few brief
the original nine members, it certainly was not representative of the group highway by bus. As we returned, months after the start of that
as a whole latterly, as during De Blanchefort’s reign the Templars had great just off the highway and in the war, prepared his traditional
wealth in both land and other assets. So great was this wealth, that they lent darkness, the desert was alive Christmas message and chose a
it to monarchs and in so doing, quite likely invented the banking system as with vehicle and troop move- quotation from a much loved
we know it. In fact as early as the Council of Troyes, when the Latin Rule ments. It was more a feeling that piece of poetry by Minnie Louise
was composed an individual knight was permitted three horse to his care they were there, as we could see Haskins:
and a Grand Master even more. almost nothing. We were in Egypt “I said to the man who stood
From Templarhistory.com - Stephen Dafoe and Alan Butler, Site Editors
to deliver operational supplies, as at the gate of the year, give me a
well as Christmas trees and tur- light, that I may tread safely into
The Rise and Fall of keys, to the Canadian Forces on the unknown. And he replied,
the Knights Templar Peacekeeping duties. This Christ-
mas, there are more than 3,600
go out into the darkness, and
put your hand into the hand of
O
ften new members to works by Charles Addison, Henry Hart Canadian sailors, soldiers and God; that shall be to you better
our order are interested Milman and F. C. Woodhouse, each a air personnel deployed overseas than a light, and safer than the
in a deeper understand- noted historian from years gone by. on operational missions. On any known way.”
ing of the history of the The book also has an introduc- given day, about 8,000 Canadian As we stand at the gate of this
Templars whom we pay homage to. tion by Sir knight Stephen Dafoe, Forces members - one third of new year, may Minnie’s words,
Unfortunately many books on the Past Grand Historian of the SGPC our deployable force - are prepar- made famous by an earthly King
subject are exceedingly long and as well as an appendix of a couple ing for, engaged in or returning during troubled times, convey
dry. The Rise and Fall of the Knights of the papal documents that saw from an overseas mission. Please the message of hope of the Eter-
Templar is a shorter work that is full the demise of the order in the years include them and their families in nal King.
of fact and detail and gives a concise between 1307 and 1312. The books your prayers. I wish for you, and those whom
overview of the rise and fall of the sells for $7.00 US and is available Throughout the turbulence you hold dear, God‚s richest
original Templars. at: www.templarhistory.com/ of this year, ordinary heroes blessings for a merry Christmas
Contained in this short volume are store.html have faced challenges, including and happy New Year. Go in peace
violent weather conditions with and may the Great Captain of
high winds, flooding, droughts, our Salvation go with you.
The Grand Chancellor, R. Em. Kt. Edward Elcombe forest fires, as well as Severe Acute Most Eminent Knight
124 Fortieth St., Etobicoke, ON M8W 3N3 (416) 259-5502 Respiratory Syndrome, West Robert W. Munday, G.C.T.,
PREPARED BY: Nile Virus and Bovine Spongi- C.D.**Supreme Grand Master
R. Em. Kt. W. Bruce Miller, Chairman of Knight Templar Advancement